(This entry is part of the Phuket 2006 series, which chronicles my virgin trip to the island. Here are the rest of the entries – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Do leave a comment!)

Surin Beach

Right now I am writing this at Surin Beach, waiting for my lunch. Just now was at Kamala Beach briefly. Well, if you have seen one of Phuket’s many beaches, you have seen them all. However I find Surin beach to be more charming, rustic, laid back and definitely less crowded. Highly recommended if you want to get away from the maddening Patong’s crowd.

As I wait for lunch, I saw a family of angmohs sitting right in front of me. Easily 15 pax. Among them are two Asians who speak their language! I guess they must be family friends, or adopted or something.

Such cam whoring moment before I set off – my last day in Phuket!

Some views along the way as I rode up north of Patong beach

More idlylic view at the extreme north of Patong beach

A view of Kamala Beach.

Another view of Kamala Beach. Like I said, once you have seen one, you have seen them all

Some of the laid back shops along Surin Beach

This is a tsunami monument area between Surin Beach and Kamala Beach. Apparently this whole area was fenced off as it is without any restoration work after the tsunami hit. Now it is just a large patch of land overgrown with weeds – a grim reminded of the day of disaster

View of Surin Beach. It is more laid back than any of the beaches I have come across. Here are some “stalls” where you can get some massages. You’ll notice there are few, if any, tourists along this stretch.

My leisurely lunch at one of the many rustic eateries along Surin Beach

The Farewell

This always happen to me. The last day of my holidays are often the best. After the final moments at Patong, I returned my bike (I had it for three full days!), walked down Patong, got up a the cab of a very chatty uncle.

He told me in very good English (considering) about many things. Like how now is the peak season, and they are expecting even more tourists over the Christmas and New Year weekend. On how you can get accomodation along Patong beach at 50% off during low season. Why it is called low season, I asked. Well, seems like that is time of strong monsoon, when the wave is strong, it rains often, and the beach is relatively dirtier than normal.

He is such a good guide – I am going to get him to pick me up from the airport the next time I am there! Highly recommended. And he has email too! “Must know how to pick up customer from airport”, he said. He charges 400 baht for a trip from airport to Patong tiself.

Had dinner with Cruz Watermark. Such a classy, classy restaurant! He might be coming bac k to SG in January; I hope to meet him again then. I mean, he has been such a good host to me.

After dinner, we rushed to the airport, only to find that my flight was delayed for an hour due to bad weather in Singapore. Hahaha… so I checked in first, bought a book and settled down for a good read.

I am going to miss Phuket badly, and I’ve the sever sunburnt as proof!

Khob Khun Krab!

The Starbuck outlet at Patong where I spent many restive hours reading my chick lit and recovering from my sunburnt

Some final views of Patong – I am going to miss this place!

The main mode of transport at Patong – tuktuk and bike!

Final view of the Patong Beach. Somehow I think this pic encapsulate it all of what Patong has to offer

Posing for the last time on my rented bike before I return it to the agency

A map of Patong Beach that actually shows the tsunami-affected areas. Click here to see a larger pic of this and be amazed of the devastation, and then be amazed on how fast Phuket has recovered

Dinner at Watermark. Forgot to take pic earlier before we actually finished the food!

(This entry is part of the Phuket 2006 series, which chronicles my virgin trip to the island. Here are the rest of the entries – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Do leave a comment!)

Everyone has been telling me that the nicest beach is Karon. I went back today and enjoyed some seriously relaxing time, despite several irritating puffs of ciggies from my fellow sun-baskers. Almost the entire beach is packed with angmohs!

Only much later I realised from my handphone notification that the beach I am actually at is Kata Noi! Hahah…

Got some severe case of sunburnt. I was halfway (somewhat reluctantly) back to Patong when I decided on a whim to return to Sense Spa for a foot massage (450 baht). I am not disappointed – it was simply the best one I ever had! I also took a long shower, which got me all refreshed for my next adventure.

Stopped by at a nearby market for a quick dinner. It was so fun seeing a group of angmoh teens trying their first fried bugs! Now I am at Starbucks having a relaxing cuppa.

Hope all will turn out well after a disapointing night at the bars yesterday.

The stall where I had my brunch for the day. I have been looking out for stalls to have my meals. Avoiding flashy restaurants at all cost

My lunch of “tom ka kai”. Wasn’t as good as expected, but for 120 baht… oh well!

Relaxing at Kata Noi Beach. By this time I am already severely sunburnt

The market where I stopped for an early dinner on my way back to Patong Beach

My best dinner ever! For a mere 60 baht I got some dishes and rice, plus a whole lot of vege to go with it – free! Ate my dinner with the locals right at the market. It was an experience like no other.

The fried bugs stall. Of course I have to have some. The stall owner got exasperated with a group of angmoh teenagers that were giggling away – he fried a grasshopper and seasoned it for one of the girls to try out. She took a hesitant bite, and then took it in whole after some urging from the stall owner. As she chewed up the grasshopper she nodded approval to her fellow travellers and suddenly they were all over the stall. What a sight!

Only much later after I have spend sometime in the market that I realised I left my key on my motorbike! Fearing for the worst, I hunted for my bike up and down the length of the market – and to my great relief I saw everything as I left it before. I am sooooo relieved, and much more grateful to the honest Thais!

(This entry is part of the Phuket 2006 series, which chronicles my virgin trip to the island. Here are the rest of the entries – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Do leave a comment!)

Beach Paradise

I’m sunburnt! Today was a day filled with beaches. Woke up rather early and enjoyed some laze around time at Patong Beach. The BBQ chicken is surprisingly good. I guess I am just hungry.

At about 2 p.m., I started my little expedition along the cost of Phuket, going down south. First stop was Karon Beach. It boasts the longest beachline in Phuket – of that I can see! White sandy beach as far as the eye can see.

Then on I went to the Kata beaches – Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Stopped at the nearby town and bumped into the Sense Spa, as recommended by Tony. Spent a heavenly hour here. The massage here is good, and the facilities are very classy. Loved it very much.

Then I am off to Kata Noi. This beach is so… beautiful and relaxing. I must come here tomorrow! Now I am back at Karon for an early dinner. Started to feel tired.

The long, long road (about 20km) from Boat Lagoon to Patong

The hill slope before Patong. Imagine navigating this in the middle of the night, drunk, on a bike with a pillion rider. I did that!

An old temple along the way. Everyone pays their respect passing this place by “wai”-ing. Those riding or driving will blare their horn

View of Patong from another side of the beach, as I begin my bike expedition

A hidden lagoon from the main beach, with a bar serving beer and stuff. It wasn’t packed – I guess it was pretty well secluded from the crowd

The famous Karon Beach. Wasn’t spared from the grips of tourism dollars

The closest thing I can find in Phuket that is comparable to Jatujak in Bangkok

Kata Noi Beach. The sand here feels different, ambience more relaxing

I have grown a liking to Chang from my trip. Cheap and good

The little town somewhere between Patong and Karon

The Sense Spa. I got to choose the oil I want to use for my massage (needless to say I went for lavender). The one hour massage cost about 1250 baht

The spa is located quite away from the “main road” – you gotta look round the corner to find it. Or just stop opposite the cloth stalls at the main road and look out for the sign board

Sunset at Karon Beach. My heart melts looking at this

The gorgeous Karon Beach

Stopped at a lone stall along the way back for an early dinner

My dinner. I think this costed me 120 baht. On the high side for my standard now.

Back in Patong for the night. I find this sign board very amusing!

Spent a good two hours at Starbuck reading my novel, before hitting the bars

(This entry is part of the Phuket 2006 series, which chronicles my virgin trip to the island. Here are the rest of the entries – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Do leave a comment!)

Patong Beach

Woke up pretty late today, and only get to Phuket Town at about 12+. Had a simple lunch there (cost me about 60 baht), before taking the 30-minutes gruelsome bus ride to Patong.

This time I alighted at the start of the beach, when it started to rain. Happily I whipped out my umbrealla – easily the only person with the radius of 50 m to do so, haha. Then I rented a super nice bike for 3 days, at only 300 baht a day! Zipping around the town riding on it can only be described as super, duper cool! Here’s the contact info of the rental agency that I got my bike from:

The sun started to come out again at that time, so I decided to get a trunk, towel and sun tan lotion on the spot for some sun-basking. Within an hour I have become one of the thousands “lobsters” along the beach and man, it was damn hot! The sun was blazing, and it was rather uncomfortable after sometime.

Now I am writing this at a Thai Cafe somewhere in Patong (nearby Bangla Soi). I love riding the bike :)

My simple 60 baht lunch @ Phuket Town

My lovely bike, which I rode for the next 3 days I am in Phuket

A view of Patong Beach. The sun is blazing! Hot, hot, hot!

Some red bits of me. Sexy, no? I know :P

Some cam-whoring moments…

More cam-whoring moments…

My super early dinner while I am writing this entry!

Another Party!

I should have known better than to ride in a foreign land. The journey home lasted more than 2 hours, as I sprinted endless rounds around the town trying to find my way back home.

But once I am sure of my way, things are okay again!

The night was spent at the Karon Beach Resort to celebrate the closing of Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. Along the way here from Boat Lagoon, I can that the beaches are packed with bars and stuff. And I thought only Patong will have these. How mistaken I was!

The party was great, great fun. Took loads of videos and photos, but if I wasn’t so tired from my day’s journey, I would have stayed longer.

Life in Phuket is good.

Here are some photos from the night. Unlike last night, this time I remembered my camera and these will be my memory forever!

(This entry is part of the Phuket 2006 series, which chronicles my virgin trip to the island. Here are the rest of the entries – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Do leave a comment!)

Onboard Jetstar

So here I am, onboard the flight bound for Phuket! It was scheduled at the ungodly hour of 0700, and I have to wake up at 0430 to catch the flight.

My holiday this time didn’t start off well. At the check in counters, there were a huge crowd of passengers heading to Phuket, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

There was this guy who were checking in a group of 29. 29! I pity those who were on the same flight as him. One of the guys got so irritated waiting in line and marched up to the guy to tell him off. Good for you, dude!

Bought a bottle of Davidoff perfume and ciggies for Cruz. Had a quick breakfast @ McD and now I am onboard the plane.

There is this sinking feeling in me that after my Sydney trip in October, all others trips will pale in comparison. I sincerely hope that I will be proven wrong.

The huge crowd at check in counters. I was so sleepy at that time

My usual shot of what I have on plane. Just had this Suzuki coffee though!

My first glimpse of Phuket! Gosh I was so excited!
Ain’t this a beauty?

Boat Lagoon

I’ve arrived! Phuket’s weather is rather mild. The airport is small, and after fuss-free check out, I met Cruz at the waiting area.

Had a good chat with him as we drove through Phuket towards his place. My first impression of Phuket – idlyic. Everything seemed so laid back, I felt that the whole town was one giant holiday resort. Why, Cruz doesn’t even get to office till 10 :D

Boat Lagoon, where Cruz has graciously offered me lodgoing, is reputedly the best place to stay in town. It is a lagoon packed with private and charterd taches. Cruz’s place is right next to a “stream” – if you own a yatch, you can moor it right outside your balcony.

Imagine that!

We had a rather large breakfast, and then it is time to catch up on my sleep! So, what’s next: Patong or Phuket Town?

Welcome to Phuket!

Big breakfast with Cruz

My lodging for the five days I am in Phuket

A view of Boat Lagoon. Cool eh? I feel so… luxurious :D

Phuket Town

So my pen runs out of ink before I can pen this entry, and I have to borrow one from the waiter. Hah!

Phuket Town, to me, is really one big bore. It’s nothing like Bangkok. In fact, it looks like my hometown Menglembu in Malaysia! I saw countless old temples and colonial houses. Other than that there’s really nothing much here.

Though I must say visiting two-centuries old deities in an ancient temple can be quite an unnverbing experience.

Had a roadside lunch though. Can’t wait to tell my friends this and watch them squirm. Haha!

Here are some photos of sights in Phuket Town. These will be more meaningful if you are using the Phuket book from Insight Guides series.

The stall where I had lunch

My lunch! It tasted rather good. Only 30 baht

First Experience of Patong

Took a 30-minute bus ride to Patong. The local bus ride wasn’t a comfortable one as it goes through the winding slopes of hills before Phuket, and it was rather bumpy. However for a mere 20 baht fare I couldn’t complain.

And what a sight Patong was! Endless stretch of white sands, throngs of pubs, swarming tourists… now this is what vacation should be like!

Right now I am at sitting at the Connect Guesthouse, sipping beer and eating cashew nuts. It was raining so it was a rather heavenly experience.

The place where you can board local buses to wherever beaches you want to go in Phuket

20 baht for a bus ride to Patong, compared to 400-500 bath for a cab ride

Patong Beach – the most developed of all beaches in Phuket

Another view of Patong main road

The infamous Bangla Soi, where all the gogo girls bars are located at

Thai Boxing Stadium. Didn’t get to watch one though, although there were “advertisement buses” making the rounds to promote the fights that were supposed to be on one of those nights

Pubs along Bangla Soi. Closed at this hour

Reminders of the Tsunami 2004 disaster. These can be seen all over the place

And what a PARTY that was. It was simply the most awesome party I have ever been to this year. Free flow of booze, superb food, great shows (they brought in a guy from London to sing Phantom of the Opera!), fireworks and most importantly great, great companions. Met many beautiful people of Phuket – cool!

This is what I call as having a high life. Too bad I didn’t bring my camera. Damn!